Pre-Ballon d'Or Secret Order: Barcelona Keeps Yamal Quiet as Rodri Also Stays Under the Radar

Ahead of the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on October 26, Barcelona and Lamine Yamal agreed not to mount any campaign. Yamal attended only one pre-match press conference before the Champions League fixture against Feyenoord, stating that he would not actively pursue the award, while rivals Mbappe and Dembele conducted multiple exclusive interviews. Yamal also accepted an interview with Valdano, to be broadcast at a later date, in which he said that he and Mbappe are the world's best players and deserve the prize. He ranked second in the previous voting, trailing only Dembele. Barcelona considers performance, aura, and recognition from opponents as key bargaining chips. Rodri also refrained from campaigning; the 19-year-old is the 2025-26 La Liga's top performer and a favorite. Another Barcelona player already won the Ballon d'Or two years ago while at Manchester City. Rodri's low-key approach has brought good fortune in the past, and Barcelona does not rule out the possibility that the 2026 World Cup's best player could claim the Ballon d'Or.